UK Archives - Page 8 of 13

River Mirrors

August 6, 2009 By Paola 2 Comments

I’m sorry and I’m enjoying life in the US more than I ever thought I would, but from a design perspective I still wish I was living in the UK, there’s so much fabulous stuff coming out of there.

A case in point are these spectacular ‘River Mirrors’ by British artist and designer Caryn Moberly {via The Art of C}.

Each River Mirror is created from beautiful pieces of burred elm and resemble water flowing between the natural banks of a river. Caryn uses the natural undulating shape of the tree to form the ‘river banks’, and so no two mirrors are the same.

I find the choice of wood particularly poignant – as a very young child I lived close to a stand of magnificent elm trees and remember feeling quite overwhelmed by their height and majesty. It pains me somewhat that, due to Dutch Elm Disease, it is unlikely that my daughter will ever see a mature elm tree in all its glory.

Light Up My Life

March 11, 2009 By Paola 5 Comments

Jona Hoad is a UK-based lighting designer, who specialises in wallpaper-like lighting panels and lighting installations for hotel bars, restaurants and your house if you’ve got enough money.

Here are some pictures from the DeVigne Bar in Marylebone and the Vanilla Bar in Soho. Sometimes I do like a bit of spangly overthetopness.

I also liked these pictures from his website, which reveal that things are not always as they seem in the world of interiors photoshoots.

Go Love Your Room – Victorian House in London

March 3, 2009 By Paola 10 Comments

I was awash with nostalgia after seeing these pictures on Crooked Shmooked of the quintessential London Victorian house. Most of our friends with kids in London live in houses like this and if we had stayed in London I’m sure it’s the sort of family house we would have ended up buying. (This particular house is not far from where we lived in Notting Hill in London and in an area we were definitely considering moving to).

Vast swathes of houses like these were put up in the 19th century all over London, and while this is certainly not on the cutting edge decor-wise it’s a very well done example of the genre, is quintessentially London and the sort of decor I love. If you want to use it for a photoshoot all details are here.

Come in! The encaustic tiiles inside and out are very Victorian and very typical, but the colour of the front door is fresh and modern and the beautiful stained glass is again a very Victorian idea, though I’m not sure if the glass in this particular door has been restored and modernised.

I’ve sat in so many rooms like this, with beautifully ornate fireplaces, a large bay window and an ugly telly tucked in the corner, because no one knows quite where to put it. Not sure about the sofa though.

Got to love the that Paul Smith ‘Love’ needlepoint from the Rug Company. It’s the companion piece to the one hanging in Carrie Bradshaw’s redecorated apartment and something I’d love to have here in Seattle, if only George Bush and Gordon Brown hadn’t stolen all our money.

I wish twinkly interior light strings were more prevalent in the US. We had them all over the flat in London and you can generally find good examples at Habitat and Graham & Green. Unfortunately the voltage is all wrong for the States (which we forgot about when we shipped some twinkly lights back for the Minx’s room last year).

Pretty much everyone in London has extended into the loft to get a bit more space.

Happy Clouds

February 28, 2009 By Paola 2 Comments

Oh please, London readers, tell me you saw these. What were they like? How did they make you feel? Did you kidnap one and take it home with you? (Despite the grey skies and general doom and gloom coming out of the UK, they made me very nostalgic for London today).

London artist Stuart Semple wanted to cheer people up, so he released 2057 pink smiley faced clouds made of helium, biodegradable soap and vegetable dye into the sky. After 30 minutes they dissolved in the air. More deets here.

Man Cooking

February 26, 2009 By Paola 4 Comments

Tuesday was Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day in the UK – so like good little expats we whipped up some batter and pretended we were in England. English pancakes are more like a French crepe than fluffy American pancakes, but are cooked in a smaller pan and are tossed to make them brown on both sides – with much ensuing hilarity in the kitchen.

Pancakes are most traditionally served with a sprinkling of lemon juice and sugar, but this year the Husband introduced a new level of danger and excitement by caramelising the sugar with his blowtorch.

This proved to be a great innovation, as it introduced a layer of sweet crunch between the smooshy folds of the pancakes, and family cooking is definitely made more interesting by the brandishing of naked flames and throwing food around the room.

I ‘Heart’

February 9, 2009 By Paola 4 Comments

Just in time for Valentines’ Day, here is a small collection of heart-themed pieces from British design company Deadgood for Barker & Stonehouse stores.

I’m trying to work out whether these are kitsch or cool. Unfortunately I suspect the former, though I’m loving the shapes and the detailing such as the covered buttons on the chair and the beautifully executed heart-shaped joinery.

Thoughts?

{Images via Deadwood. Found via ‘If It’s Hip It’s Here’}.

Our New Lamp

February 9, 2009 By Paola 5 Comments

Bought at Christmas from Habitat in the UK and shipped to the US at vast expense. There are some shops I just can’t live without.

One day that wall and wood trim will be painted a different colour. However, I really wouldn’t hold your breath.

Victorian Colour

January 28, 2009 By Paola Leave a Comment

I’m not so sure about some of the textile choices in this English Victorian house – a bit too old fashioned for my taste – but I love the owner’s use of colour and the use of contemporary furniture contrasted with the house’s old bones. A couple of great Ikea hacks too.

The stair runner is made of Barnslig Rand rugs sewn together.

The round bed was apparently sold in Ikea but I can’t find it on the current website. There’s one for sale here. The owner of the house made the round headboard for her teenage daughter’s room. I would have KILLED for this bed when I was a teenager (except for the surprisingly nasty Lulu Guinness bed linen).

{All house photos from Living etc.)

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day – Set Decor

January 21, 2009 By Paola 1 Comment

Last Saturday evening, I lit the scented candles, cracked open a bottle of Baileys, got out my knitting and settled down to watch Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. We like to live fast and die young round these parts.

The film itself is slighter than slight, though perfect Saturday night fodder, and utterly redeemed by Frances McDormand's perfectly judged comic performance, the incredible Art Deco costumes and interiors and lots of lovely shots of Art Deco London.

It's not really my taste, but there's something about the sophisticated colour palette; the handpainted wallpaper; the sheen and glamour; the fur and the padding; the satin and chandeliers which makes you want to spend all day lying in bed eating oysters, drinking champagne and receiving gentlemen callers.